A Dutch tourist has been remanded on bail after an appearance in Christchurch District Court this morning over the deaths of three people in a car smash at the weekend.

Johannes Jacobus Appelman, 52, did not enter a plea on three counts of careless use of a vehicle causing death and one charge of careless use of a vehicle causing injury.

Appelman, who has been discharged from hospital after suffering minor injuries in the crash, was alleged to have run a stop sign at the Thompsons Track and Somerton Road intersection near Rakaia, his car colliding with a Volvo carrying four people from Christchurch on their way to visiting family friends at Lake Ohau.